An old screed must be removed before beginning any remodeling project that includes new flooring. Replacement screeds are required when they break, become uneven, or simply outlive their usefulness. Knowing how to remove the old screed is crucial, regardless of whether you’re dealing with a layer that is crumbling or intending to install new flooring.
Dismantling a screed can be a difficult task, but with the correct methods and equipment, it is doable. This task entails removing the old screed from the floor surface, which is typically a hard substance made of cement. The idea is to lay a tidy, level foundation for your upcoming renovation projects.
This post will guide you through the essential procedures for taking apart a screed, from evaluating the floor’s condition to effectively and safely removing the old material. It will be easier to ensure a successful renovation if you know what to expect, whether you’re managing professionals or doing it yourself.
Tools Required | Steps for Screed Dismantling |
Hammer and Chisel | Start by breaking the screed into smaller pieces. |
Jackhammer | Use a jackhammer to remove thicker screed layers. |
Vacuum Cleaner | Clean the area thoroughly after dismantling. |
- Dismantling – relevance and features of implementation
- Dismantling of the concrete floor screed: an overview of methods and cost
- Impact method
- cutting
- Drilling
- Robotic equipment for industrial screed removal
- Features of dismantling floor screeds
- Tools and protective equipment
- Dismantling of reinforced screed
- Video on the topic
- Dismantling the screed without perforation.
- Dismantling the screed!!! Sawing the floor without dust!!!
- Removing the floor screed
- Dismantling the apartment. How to remove the old floor screed
- Dismantling work in a new building. Vse to znat" # 3
- Dismantling the old screed
- Features of dismantling the screed in a panel house.
Dismantling – relevance and features of implementation
Because screed disassembly is costly and labor-intensive, it is rarely done except in the case of major repairs, emergencies, or redevelopment. The thickness, makeup, and design of the screed, the difficulty of the task, the destruction technique, and any extra services are taken into account when estimating the amount of screed dismantling per square meter. The average market price is determined specifically for each object and begins at 100 rubles per square meter.
When is it appropriate to invest the time and money necessary to disassemble cement screeds?
- cement mortar protrudes through the joints of floor tiles, strips of linoleum, parquet or laminate boards;
- destruction of the old coating appears: stratification of the structure, cracks, fractures;
- hollow cavities are formed under the tiled floor covering;
- there are unevennesses and potholes on the floor surface;
- a major remodeling of the apartment is planned, reinforcement of the floor screed, installation or replacement of the heating circuit.
The concrete screed is dismantled once personal belongings have been removed from the premises. The best methods, tools, and equipment for dismantling an apartment depend on its architectural features, size, and screed layer’s height and pattern.
Dismantling of the concrete floor screed: an overview of methods and cost
Three technological techniques are used to disassemble the screed: impact, cutting, and drilling.
Impact method
When there are no reinforced structural elements, the screed is removed from the floor using the impact method. Benefits of the impact method include quick disassembly and low costs. Hammer drills, grinders, and jackhammers are used for the task. A jackhammer can remove fifty square meters of old screed in an eight-hour workday. Strong impact noise and a lot of dust in the room are drawbacks.
cutting
The equipment runs on an uninterrupted power supply and uses water cooling while the old screed is broken up and removed in pieces. Increased dust concentrations are avoided by wet cutting. Work tools include hand cutters, joint cutters with diamond cutting discs, and grinders.
Drilling
If only the screed portion is destroyed during drilling operations, then it is effective. The noise level of the method is low. Concrete cylinders are removed from the local area’s perimeter or circumference using an electric drill equipped with a diamond bit. The separated portion of the screed is then broken up and removed.
At large facilities, robotic dismantling equipment is used because, on an industrial scale, the use of manual equipment is not always effective and recommended. Robots can remove up to 150 square meters of solid screed mass in an eight-hour shift.
Robotic equipment for industrial screed removal
Dismantling a screed that is 4 cm thick will likely cost 300 rubles, 5-8 cm will cost 400 rubles, and 9-15 cm will cost 500 rubles. Removal of reinforced screeds costs more than 500 rubles per square meter.
Features of dismantling floor screeds
Take into consideration the features and procedure for removing the screed to prevent errors.
- Before dismantling operations, remove furniture and personal belongings from the apartment, remove the baseboards.
- Study the layout of communications and find out whether cables (pipes) are laid inside the old screed.
- Choose tools and technology based on the area of the room, the thickness of the destroyed base and the presence of reinforcement in the concrete.
- Notify residents in advance about upcoming noisy work, accumulation of debris and dust, possible overloads of the electrical network due to powerful equipment.
When taking the screed apart:
- Work during the day so as not to cause inconvenience to neighbors in an apartment building.
- Remove old linoleum strips, laminate planks or individual tiles from the surface carefully if you want to lay them again.
- Break up the concrete mass into fragments, immediately put them in construction waste bags (this will reduce dust).
- Try not to destroy the structure of the wall surface and not to damage the ceilings.
- Be careful in places where risers, ventilation and electrical shafts pass.
Tools and protective equipment
Assemble the required equipment and protective gear ahead of time in order to remove the screed.
Equipment for crumbling by hand:
Electric instruments for rapid devastation:
- electric drills;
- jackhammers;
- electric hammer drills.
- grinder – for sawing reinforcement elements;
- vacuum cleaner – for collecting dust;
- strong polymer bags for storing the resulting waste.
Because there is a lot of dust released during disassembly, wear protective gear and accessories:
- special glasses for construction work − will protect the mucous membrane of the eyes from fine cement dust;
- work helmets − will protect the head from impacts of cement fragments that fly out from under the tool;
- headphones − will protect the hearing aid and nervous system from the effects of construction noise;
- gloves − will prevent harmful cement particles from penetrating the skin pores of the hands, soften accidental falls of concrete fragments and protect hands from bruises;
- a respirator is an important element of respiratory protection from the penetration of fine dust;
- thick rubber boots with thick soles − will protect the feet from damage by concrete fragments and reinforcement.
In order to prepare the surface for new flooring, screed dismantling—a critical step in remodeling or repairing floors—involves carefully removing worn-out or damaged screed layers. Screed removal done correctly guarantees a smooth and even base, which is critical to the longevity and aesthetics of the finished floor finish. To help you accomplish the best outcomes for your project, this article will walk you through the essential procedures and factors to take into account when removing screed effectively.
Dismantling of reinforced screed
The screed is disassembled piece by piece. The following is the work order:
- Prepare for dismantling. At this stage, clear the floor surface of furniture, debris and old covering, remove foreign objects from the screed.
- Assess the feasibility of dismantling. Check whether it is possible to leave fragments of the old screed for further use. If the condition of the surface and internal structure allows you to avoid destruction, seal the cracks and crevices. If the base is dilapidated and dilapidated, internal voids are tapped, perform a local opening of the surface.
- Open a separate fragment of the screed in the selected place with a jackhammer. Measure the thickness of the concrete or cement layer, check for internal communications. At this stage, the technology of work and dismantling methods are determined. Determine the approximate volume of debris and prepare a sufficient number of bags.
- Start destroying the surface of the screed with a jackhammer at the far wall opposite the entrance. Make several indentations up to the ceiling. Step by step, remove the broken pieces in several places. Do not go deeper than the thickness of the screed, try not to damage the floor slab. Go around the communication pipes, cables, boxes.
- As you work, put debris and garbage in bags, which you immediately put outside the door or store at the entrance. After removing all the screed, take the construction waste to the dump.
- Vacuum up small debris from the cleaned floor.
You’ve now readied the previous base for a fresh fill.
The disassembly of the screed using tools and technology is demonstrated in the video.
Although removing an old screed can be difficult, it’s necessary to guarantee a strong base for new flooring. For the best renovation results, you must dismantle the screed, regardless of whether you’re dealing with old materials, uneven surfaces, or cracks.
As you tackle this project, keep in mind that having the right tools and preparation will help the process go more smoothly. Take your time evaluating the screed’s state and selecting the best removal technique, such as hand-breaking it apart or employing specialist tools.
You will be able to install a fresh, level base that will sustain your flooring for many years after the old screed is removed. In addition to making your room look better, this work extends the life and stability of your new floor.